Shillong, April 24: Meghalaya has stepped up efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, with officials highlighting the importance of district-level execution, robust data systems and outcome-based budgeting at a state workshop held on Thursday.
The programme, hosted at the State Convention Centre, brought together officials and development partners to review progress, identify gaps and align strategies with measurable outcomes. Discussions focused on strengthening delivery mechanisms and ensuring that policies translate into tangible results on the ground.
Commissioner and Secretary of the Planning Department, Vijay Kumar D, said the state has developed a structured implementation framework, including SDG cells across districts supported by research fellows and village-level data volunteers. He added that the expansion of a catalytic fund would enable districts to access up to ₹1.5 crore each for targeted interventions, with the broader aim of placing Meghalaya among the top 10 states in SDG performance by 2030.
Secretary of Planning, Investment Promotion and Sustainable Development, R. Nainamalai, said SDG implementation is being integrated with long-term economic planning. He noted that Meghalaya remains in the “Performer” category in the NITI Aayog SDG Index, with improvements recorded in areas such as water access, inequality reduction and climate action.
Officials said the workshop placed emphasis on strengthening district data systems, enhancing monitoring tools such as the Village Advancement Index and improving convergence across government schemes. East Khasi Hills was identified as a leading district performer, reflecting the impact of decentralised planning and monitoring.
Advisor with the Indo-German development partnership, K. M. Pala, stressed the role of partnerships, innovation and accountability in improving outcomes.
Participants also reviewed initiatives related to vocational training in green jobs and underscored the need for stronger documentation and inter-departmental coordination to sustain progress towards SDG targets.
